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Only items marked with (*) are averaged
into the displayed overall rating.

General Rating Criteria

*Temperament

(1=Awful,10=Excellent)

*Scholarship

(1=Awful,10=Excellent)

*Industriousness

(1=Not at all industrious,10=Highly industrious)

*Ability to Handle Complex Litigation

(1=Awful,10=Excellent)

*Punctuality

(1=Chronically Late,10=Always on Time)

*General Ability to Handle Pre-Trial Matters

(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)

*General Ability as a Trial Judge

(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)

Flexibility In Scheduling

(1=Completely Inflexible,10=Very Flexible)

Criminal Rating Criteria (if applicable)

*Evenhandedness in Criminal Litigation

(1=Demonstrates Bias,10=Entirely Evenhanded)

General Inclination Regarding Bail

(1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)

Involvement in Plea Discussions

(1=Not at all Involved, 10=Very Involved)

General Inclination in Criminal Cases Pretrial Stage

(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)

General Inclination in Criminal Cases Trial Stage

(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)

General Inclination in Criminal Cases Sentencing Stage

(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)

Civil Rating Criteria (if applicable)

*Evenhandedness in Civil Litigation

(1=Not at all Evenhanded,10=Entirely Evenhanded)

Involvement in Settlement Discussions

(1=Not at all Involved,10=Very Involved)

General Inclination

(1=Pro-defendant, 10=Pro-plaintiff)

Comments

What others have said about
Hon. Michael R. Sonberg

Comments

Other

Comment #: NY5250
Rating:1.0
Comments:
He throws periodic temper tantrums. He is totally biased against certain groups and professions. He tends to be completely unprofessional. He makes decisions depending on his mood, and refuses to listen to any logic if it crosses one of his may biases. It is completely unbelievable that he has been allowed to remain on the bench for this long.

Other

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY1868
Rating:10.0
Comments:
These comments are bizarre in the extreme. My experience, and that of my colleagues and clients, is that the judge is smart, prepared, well-read and fair--unlike many of his colleagues, a jurist.

Prosecutor

Comment #: NY1708
Rating:2.4
Comments:
Probably the second worst judge I've ever practiced in front of. Nasty attitude, as though bitter at the world. Is your life so bad, judge, that you need to take it out on everyone else?

Other

Comment #: NY1697
Rating:1.0
Comments:
A violent sex offender allegedly raped a college student two days after Judge Sonberg postponed sentencing for drug charges on compassionate grounds.
The judge allowed Lawrence Elliot another month of freedom, against the objections of prosecutors, after asking to be allowed to care for his ill father.
Less than 48 hours later, Elliot broke into the apartment of a 21-year-old woman in Manhattan, New York, robbed her and raped her.

Prosecutor

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY1020
Rating:5.8
Comments:
Has a terrible temperament. Threw a jury note at my colleague. Yelled at jury because he thought they were taking too long taking their assigned seats. Really thinks he's the smartest guy in the room and likes to take it out on both sides if he thinks you are wrong (even if he is the one who is wrong). He is unpleasant to both sides, whether it's in arraignments or on trial. I dread appearing before him on any matter.